U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Wind Turbine Guidelines (Federal Advisory Committee)US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service

Contracting through IECR, Raab Associates facilitated Federal Advisory Committee meetings for the Department of Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to discuss the Service’s draft Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines. The objectives for the meetings were to discuss the similarities and differences between the Committee’s initial recommendations and several iterations of Fish and Wildlife Service’s Draft Guidelines; to offer the Committee members an opportunity to provide comments on the Service’s Draft Guidelines; and to inform the Committee Members and the public on next steps. The FAC included both federal and state agency representatives. Public comments were included in each meeting. On March 23, 2012, the Department of the Interior released guidelines designed to help wind energy project developers avoid and minimize impacts of land-based wind projects on wildlife and their habitats. The voluntary guidelines will help shape the smart siting, design and operation of the nation's growing wind energy economy. For more information go to the DOI website: http://www.fws.gov/windenergy/